(CNN) - Next month, Gov. Tim Pawlenty is heading to New Hampshire, the latest presidential proving ground the Minnesota Republican will have visited this fall.

Pawlenty will keynote a $50-per-person fundraiser for the state's Republican Senate Majority Committee in Concord on December 16 in what could be seen as an effort to build early support in the key primary state.

The planned trip comes on the heels of a foray to Iowa last weekend, where Pawlenty headlined the state GOP's annual leadership dinner, one of the two major annual events for the state party.

Pawlenty announced this past summer he would not seek a second gubernatorial term in 2012, fueling speculation he is setting his sights on a presidential bid instead.

The governor also rolled out a new political action committee in October and announced a fleet of new advisers, several of whom advised Pawlenty's likely 2012 rival - former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney - during his 2008 presidential bid.

soundoff(30 Responses)

timz

Shouldn't he be referred to as "ex-Governor" Pawlenty? Slick Timmy spends about as much time in Minnesota these days as Sarah Palin spends in Alaska . . . and, like Alaska, Minnesota is probably better off for the change.

November 11, 2009 03:54 pm at 3:54 pm |

Jayden,FL

This man is already running for president.. along with Palin Huckabee and Romney... but they can run as much as they want but at the end they will still lose come 2012...

November 11, 2009 03:56 pm at 3:56 pm |

Steph

I would like my Governor to stay here in our state! His special trips aren't helping anyone in Minnesota.

November 11, 2009 04:02 pm at 4:02 pm |

Vets4Obama

Hide the children, especially the boys. A republican is coming to town, nobody is safe, especially children, when they are in town.

November 11, 2009 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

Sniffit

Sooooo, after listening to the GOP yammer endlessly about how Obama campaigned for 2 years, we're supposed to sit quietly while some used car salesman looking jabberwocky nonsense faucet campaigns for an entire 4 year presidential term while he's got a state to run? Sorry. We'll be making fun of Polenta as ruthlessly as can be...

November 11, 2009 04:06 pm at 4:06 pm |

Jesus Francisco

Pawlenty endorsed Hoffman in NY-23rd just like the rest of the wing-nuts! Forget him. He will do/say anything to win.

November 11, 2009 04:09 pm at 4:09 pm |

Chris

The article is wrong; he chose not to seek a third term as Governor in 2010, not his second term in 2012.

November 11, 2009 04:10 pm at 4:10 pm |

proud wingnut, birther, deather, and lemming who follows the beliefs of Chairman Glenn

$50 per person reinforces the fact that this moderate is 4 fries short of a happy meal if he thinks we will support him.

November 11, 2009 04:16 pm at 4:16 pm |

proud wingnut, birther, deather, and lemming who follows the beliefs of Chairman Glenn

Pawlenty has already exceeded his term limit.

November 11, 2009 04:17 pm at 4:17 pm |

victim of republican greed

Looking forward to Tim taking pride, like a typical wingnut, that 1.5 million veterans do not have health care.

November 11, 2009 04:19 pm at 4:19 pm |

Video Guy

He should stay home and take care of Minnesota.. Or he could visit North Dakota and learn how state Government should be run.

November 11, 2009 04:21 pm at 4:21 pm |

Bill

This is another reason our political process is no longer working properly. It is 2009, and this jerk is going to start building support for a 2012 race?!? To anyone who is actually using critical thinking, this is absurd.

November 11, 2009 04:23 pm at 4:23 pm |

Wolfe

Now isn't that something to behold!

November 11, 2009 04:25 pm at 4:25 pm |

victim of republican greed

The wingnuts are predicting landslides in 2010 and 2012. If a landslide occurs that is like the congressional election in NY23 and CA that gave the democrats two more votes in congress, I can't wait for 2010.

November 11, 2009 04:26 pm at 4:26 pm |

T'SAH from Virginia

good & PAWLENTY is on a roll. Too bad it's not going to do any good. There are too many CHIEFS in the Republican Party of NO and not enough INDIANS!!! Including an Indian CHIEF-ESS – Ms. PA'IN.............. LOL

OBAMA 2012... YES WE CAN!!!

November 11, 2009 04:28 pm at 4:28 pm |

timothy

tim pawlenty another corpret socialist goper . did you know that the gop beleaves in the redistribution of wealth ? oh its quite true they redistribute money from the middle class and the poor an give your hard earned tax dollers to their billion doller friends . now thats redistribution of wealth in anyones book . see thinky thinky for your self people .the party that gave us hoover , cheney an bush has lost all of its moral authority on the econmy haveing caused two great depressions in this country .

Who is running the State of Minnesota and who is paying for all these trips he's taking. I hope they aren't on the taxpayer's dime. Someone should investigate this.

November 11, 2009 04:38 pm at 4:38 pm |

victim of republican greed

Tim 'The Tin Man' Pawlenty, Mitt 'The Cowardly Lion' and Mike "The Scarecrow' Huckabee are off to see Lizard.

November 11, 2009 04:42 pm at 4:42 pm |

Ed, Santa Fe, NM

who would pay 50 CENTS to see this schmuck?

November 11, 2009 04:50 pm at 4:50 pm |

Anonymous

What a air head. He needs to take care of his own state.

November 11, 2009 04:53 pm at 4:53 pm |

They call me "tater salad"

The Republicans are so close to total extinction that they actually have to start campainging for an election that's still 3 YEARS away! What a bunch of clowns! GOP= The party of high comedy!

November 11, 2009 04:55 pm at 4:55 pm |

mike

another republican loser or losers palwlenty of this idiot its the wing nut season

November 11, 2009 04:57 pm at 4:57 pm |

Jane/Seattle

Until we have comprehensive election reform which takes all this money out of the equation, THIS constant electioneering will not end. True leaders would really see the light and choose to change this system. This current routine is corrupt, complicit and fake! If I caan see through this, who else can? Get together and sit down, swaallow your pride/Egos and get to listening to We The People! We are telling you we want real CHANGE! More politics as usual is turning most of us OFF! These constant manipulations as if you all are different sides of the coin is sooooooooo Transparent! Republicans play bad guy! All this fake Ideology lasts only until they pass from the Churches to the Banks-oops!, I mean pray that all these poor folks would just shut-up and stop interfereing in this RAPE of our hard-earned Money! Peace

November 11, 2009 05:05 pm at 5:05 pm |

Lee in TN

I wonder who is taking care of business for the state of Minnesota while this guy is "jet setting" all over the country (while on the MN payrool) trying to set himself up for a presidential run in 2012? Better yet, I wonder if the good citizens of MN are paying his travel expenses.